James DeGale
| James DeGale | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DeGale in 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real name | James Frederick DeGale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Chunky | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rated at | Super-middleweight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 188 cm (74 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
3 February 1986[1] Hammersmith, London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Southpaw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=icon}
.svg.png){kind=icon}
.svg.png){kind=icon}
James Frederick DeGale, MBE (born 3 February 1986) is a British professional boxer and Olympic gold medalist. He is the current IBF super-middleweight champion, which makes him the first ever boxer to have won both an Olympic Gold medal and a professional world title, when representing Great Britain.
Background
DeGale started amateur boxing at the Trojan club at the age of 10 before moving to Dale Youth boxing club.[2] As a boy he soon acquired the nickname "Chunky",[3] a name that has followed him throughout his career. The predominantly southpaw Londoner fights as a switch hitter. At the Commonwealth Games 2006 he won Bronze when he lost to Jarrod Fletcher.
DeGale has stated on numerous occasions that he is a big Arsenal fan and frequently fights with the Arsenal FC Club logo on his robe and shorts.
His father is from the West Indian island of Grenada and his mother is white.
Amateur career
Amateur record: 79–16.
DeGale represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the Middleweight boxing event, winning the gold medal. In the quarter finals he beat a former Olympic gold medalist from Athens (Bakhtiyar Artayev) and in the semi-final once again beat the late Irishman Darren Sutherland (prior to this latest meeting the boxers had fought five times with Sutherland winning four and DeGale only one). In the final DeGale won a scrappy and bad tempered affair against the Cuban Emilio Correa who was docked two points in the first round for biting DeGale's shoulder.[4]
World amateur championships results
2007 (as a middleweight)
- Lost to Alfonso Blanco (Venezuela) 13–28
Olympic results
2008
- Defeated Mohamed Hikal (Egypt) 13–4
- Defeated Shawn Estrada (USA) 11–5
- Defeated Bakhtiyar Artayev (Kazakhstan) 8–3
- Defeated Darren Sutherland (Ireland) 10–3
- Defeated Emilio Correa (Cuba) 16–14
Professional career
On 2 December 2008, he agreed a deal with promoter Frank Warren to become professional along with Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders. The contract agreed is rumoured to be worth around £1.5 million.[5]
DeGale was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours.[6]
On 28 February 2009 DeGale made his professional debut against Georgia boxer Vepkhia Tchilaia, winning the fight on points 40–36. DeGale came in for a mixed reaction, being booed off after being taken the distance by his little-known opponent. However DeGale has been backed by many, as the Georgian was boxing extremely defensively.[7] Five more victories followed before DeGale won his first title, the WBA International super-middleweight title, defeating Sam Horton by 5th round TKO. On 18 September 2010, DeGale made the first defence of his WBA title against fellow Brit Carl Dilks, gaining victory by TKO after just 2 minutes and 54 seconds of the first round.
Frank Warren revealed that DeGale would challenge Paul Smith for the British super-middleweight title on Warren's blockbuster event in Liverpool, set for 11 December at the Echo Arena. The bill included fellow Olympians; Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, Nathan Cleverly and Kell Brook. DeGale went on to beat Paul Smith via TKO in the ninth round. As a result of this, DeGale became British Super-Middlewight Champion.
On 21 May 2011, DeGale suffered the first loss of his professional career to fellow Dale Youth Boxing Club graduate George Groves. The judges scored the bout 115–115, 115–114, 115-114.
On 15 October 2011, DeGale beat Piotr Wilczewski by majority decision to win the European super-middleweight title in the Echo Arena Liverpool.
In February 2012 DeGale signed a sponsorship deal with Bulk Powders sport supplements.[8]
On 10 April 2014, DeGale signed a promotional deal with Matchroom Sport. DeGale made his first appearance under Matchroom on the undercard of the Carl Froch and George Groves rematch at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2014. He stopped opponent Brandon Gonzáles in the 4th round.
IBF Super-Middleweight Championship
DeGale vs. Dirrell
On 23 May 2015, DeGale beat American boxer Andre Dirrell by unanimous decision (24-1, 16 KOs) to win the vacant IBF super-middleweight title.[9]
DeGale vs. Bute
It was announced in mid-2015 that DeGale would take part in his first IBF super-middleweight title defence against Romanian fighter Lucian Bute. On 28 November 2015 in Quebec, Canada, DeGale defeated Bute via unanimous decision.[10]
DeGale vs. Medina
| Punch Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Punches | DeGale | Medina |
| Landed | 314 | 265 |
| Thrown | 612 | 1140 |
| Percent | 51% | 23% |
On April 30, 2016 DeGale outpointed Rogelio 'Porky' Medina (36-6, 30 KOs) at the D.C Armory in Washington DC. In a hard-hitting dogfight, DeGale used his speed, skills and accurate punching to punch his ticket to a unification fight with Badou Jack by virtue of a grueling unanimous decision against the mandatory challenger. In a very physical fight DeGale prevailed 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113, scores which were roundly booed by the crowd, who loved Medina's non-stop punching style. ESPN.com also scored the fight for DeGale, 116-112.[11]
Professional boxing record
| 24 fights, 23 wins (14 knockouts), 1 loss[12] | ||||||||
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 |  Rogelio Medina |
UD | 12 | 30 Apr 2016 |  D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., US |
Retained IBF super-middleweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 |  Lucian Bute |
UD | 12 | 28 Nov 2015 |  Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
Retained IBF super-middleweight title |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Andre Dirrell |
UD | 12 | 23 May 2015 | Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, US |
Won vacant IBF super-middleweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Marco Antonio Peribán |
TKO | 3 (12), 0:30 | 22 Nov 2014 |  Echo Arena, Liverpool, England |
|
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Brandon Gonzáles |
TKO | 4 (12), 1:58 | 31 May 2014 | Wembley Stadium, London, England |
|
| 19 | Win | 18–1 |  Gevorg Khatchikian |
TKO | 11 (12), 2:58 | 1 Mar 2014 | City Academy Sports Centre, Bristol, England |
Retained WBC Silver super-middleweight title |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Dyah Davis |
UD | 12 | 16 Nov 2013 | Bluewater Shopping Centre, Stone, England |
Retained WBC Silver super-middleweight title |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 |  Stjepan Božić |
RTD | 4 (12), 3:00 | 8 Jun 2013 | Bluewater Shopping Centre, Stone, England |
Retained WBC Silver super-middleweight title |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Sébastien Demers |
KO | 2 (8), 1:58 | 17 May 2013 | Hilton Lac Leamy, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada |
|
| 15 | Win | 14–1 |  Fulgencio Zúñiga |
UD | 12 | 8 Dec 2012 | KC Sports Arena, Hull, England |
Won vacant WBC Silver super-middleweight title |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 |  Hadillah Mohoumadi |
UD | 12 | 13 Oct 2012 | Bluewater Shopping Centre, Stone, England |
Retained European super-middleweight title |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 |  Cristian Sanavia |
TKO | 4 (12), 2:58 | 21 Apr 2012 |  Arena Nord, Frederikshavn, Denmark |
Retained European super-middleweight title |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 |  Piotr Wilczewski |
MD | 12 | 15 Oct 2011 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, England |
Won European super-middleweight title |
| 11 | Loss | 10–1 | George Groves |
MD | 12 | 21 May 2011 | The O2 Arena, London, England |
Lost British super-middleweight title; For Commonwealth super-middleweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Alpay Kobal |
TKO | 5 (8), 1:37 | 12 Mar 2011 | Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland |
|
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Paul Smith |
TKO | 9 (12), 2:08 | 11 Dec 2010 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, England |
Won British super-middleweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Carl Dilks |
TKO | 1 (10), 2:54 | 18 Sep 2010 | LG Arena, Birmingham, England |
Retained WBA International super-middleweight title |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Sam Horton |
TKO | 5 (12), 2:06 | 15 May 2010 | Boleyn Ground, London, England |
Won vacant WBA International super-middleweight title |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Matthew Barr |
TKO | 2 (6), 1:38 | 13 Feb 2010 | Wembley Arena, London, England |
|
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Nathan King |
PTS | 4 | 5 Dec 2009 | Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England |
|
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ally Morrison |
TKO | 3 (6), 0:45 | 30 Oct 2009 | Echo Arena, Liverpool, England |
|
| 3 | Win | 3–0 |  Ciaran Healy |
TKO | 1 (4), 2:59 | 18 Jul 2009 | MEN Arena, Manchester, England |
|
| 2 | Win | 2–0 |  Jindrich Kubin |
TKO | 1 (4), 2:22 | 15 May 2009 | Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 |  Vepkhia Tchilaia |
PTS | 4 | 28 Feb 2009 | National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England |
Professional debut |
Titles in boxing
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional titles | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Paul Smith |
WBA International super-middleweight champion 15 May 2010 – ? |
Vacant Title next held by J'Leon Love |
| Preceded by Paul Smith |
British super-middleweight champion 12 November 2010 – 21 May 2011 |
Succeeded by George Groves |
| Preceded by Piotr Wilczewski |
European super-middleweight champion 15 October 2011 – 18 December 2012 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Christopher Rebrassé |
| Other titles | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Adonis Stevenson |
WBC Silver super-middleweight champion 8 December 2012 - 2014 |
Vacant Title next held by George Groves |
| World titles | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Carl Froch |
IBF super-middleweight champion 23 May 2015 – present |
Incumbent |
References
- 1 2 "James DeGale". teamgb.com. British Olympic Association. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ↑ Mathew,Syed."Dale Youth Boxing Club", The Times, 2005-10-07
- ↑ "James DeGale Bio". British Olympic Association. August 2009.
- ↑ Superb DeGale lands boxing gold. BBC. 23 August 2008
- ↑ Lewis, Ron. "James DeGale's dream of double gold ends", The Times, 2008-12-03
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 58929. p. 15. 31 December 2008.
- ↑ "British trio make winning starts". BBC News. 1 March 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ↑ http://www.bulkpowders.co.uk/blog/bulkpowders-james-degale-formalise-partnership/
- ↑ http://www.premierboxingchampions.com/news/james-degale-does-early-damage-win-over-andre-dirrell
- ↑ "DeGale beats Bute via UD". Sky Sports.
- ↑ "DeGale outpoints Medina, retains title". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
- ↑ Professional boxing record for James DeGale from BoxRec
External links
- Official website
- Professional boxing record for James DeGale from BoxRec
- Olympic profile
- Biography on Premier Boxing Champions website
| ||||||||||